July 23, 2026, 8:32 am | Read time: 7 minutes
Depending on the vacation destination, women are often allowed to sunbathe topless on the beach, even outside official nudist areas. But what are the rules on cruise ships? TRAVELBOOK inquired with various cruise lines.
Equal rights for all–some women might demand this in light of the ongoing distinction between exposed male and female chests. However, it’s not allowed everywhere for women to go topless. This also applies to many cruise ships, as a TRAVELBOOK investigation has revealed. Whether topless sunbathing is allowed often depends on the cruise line or, more specifically, the flag under which the cruise ships sail.
For most U.S. cruise lines, female passengers are prohibited from sunbathing topless on board. This is because the U.S. is generally more conservative in this regard. However, some European cruise lines allow women to sunbathe topless. The following overview shows the rules for each cruise line.
Royal Caribbean
With cruise ship giants like “Icon of the Sea,” the largest cruise ship in the world, and a market share of about 19 percent of all global cruise lines, Royal Caribbean is one of the four largest cruise lines worldwide. The “Icon of the Sea” alone can accommodate up to 7,600 people. According to their own information, 29 Royal Caribbean ships currently sail the world’s oceans, with a passenger capacity of 111,000 at double occupancy. Four more ships with about 22,500 beds are in planning.
And what about the guidelines for female guests on these ships–are they allowed to sunbathe topless or not? According to a spokesperson who responded to a TRAVELBOOK inquiry in 2022, a strict ban applies on all ships of the brand. “We are a family brand and ask all our guests to be considerate of their fellow travelers. Therefore, topless sunbathing is not permitted on board our ships.” If a female guest is found without a top, a crew member will politely ask her to adhere to the existing rule.
The updated guidelines for 2025 also state: “Public nudity is not permitted. Guests must be appropriately dressed, even on cabin balconies, if visible to others on board, on other ships, or on land. Topless sunbathing is not allowed, except on selected routes, and on these routes, it is only permitted in designated areas.”
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line was recently considered the leading cruise line with a market share of more than 20 percent. The Miami-based cruise company, which is the founding company of the British-American Carnival Corporation & plc, operates 29 ships.
And what about the regulations regarding topless sunbathing with this cruise giant? This cruise line also enforces a strict dress code for female guests on the sun deck. No surprise, as Carnival Cruises is a U.S. company and mainly transports passengers from the U.S. “This is naturally reflected on board,” a spokesperson for the cruise line told TRAVELBOOK in 2022. “Topless” is frowned upon by much of the U.S. population, which is why it is not practiced on Carnival ships. “However, an explicit ban is not recorded anywhere and is not officially communicated on board,” the spokesperson said. “But you can assume that guests will be politely reminded by the crew to wear ‘complete’ swimwear if necessary.”
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Cunard Line
The situation is similar with Cunard Line, which operates under the umbrella of Carnival Corporation & plc, like Carnival Cruise Line. However, it is a bit less strict. A spokesperson for Cunard Line explained to TRAVELBOOK: “Since our outdoor decks are communal areas used by guests of all ages and from around the world, we ask guests who wish to sunbathe topless to do so on their own balcony.” This regulation ensures a pleasant and respectful environment for all guests on board.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is also among the four largest cruise lines. It currently owns 20 ships with a passenger capacity of approximately 57,000. It also has a clear stance on female sunbathing.
The response to a corresponding inquiry from TRAVELBOOK is still pending. However, the rules of Norwegian Cruise Line clearly state: “Sunbathing without a top is not permitted.” With one exception: Bare Necessities Tour & Travel regularly charters the “Norwegian Pearl” for nudist cruises. In this case, the organizer’s guidelines apply, which means not only topless sunbathing but also completely nude restaurant visits.
MSC Cruises
Geneva-based MSC Cruises is also one of the cruise giants and is conservative regarding nudity: “Public nudity is not allowed,” state the guest guidelines of the Italy-rooted cruise line. Elsewhere, it explicitly refers to topless sunbathing: “Remember that topless bathing is not permitted in this family-friendly area,” it says in a section on the MSC Yacht Club Grill & Bar. This wording raises questions about a general topless ban. MSC Cruises has not yet responded to a TRAVELBOOK inquiry.
Aida Cruises
Aida Cruises is also a subsidiary of the British-American Carnival Corp. & plc, but Aida ships sail under the German flag. On these ships, women are not only allowed to work on their seamless tan topless, but fans of the nudist culture can also go completely nude–though not everywhere. “A separate nudist area is available to our guests on Aida ships,” a spokesperson said in response to an inquiry in 2022.
Disney Cruise Line
There is no clear rule–permission or prohibition–on the Disney Cruise Line pages. Given the clear focus on family travel of Disney cruises, a topless ban is very likely. A corresponding inquiry from TRAVELBOOK has so far gone unanswered.
Celestyal Cruises
The Cyprus-flagged cruise line offers mainly Mediterranean cruises in Greece and Turkey with two ships. A spokesperson recently shared the following regarding the dress code with TRAVELBOOK: “Celestyal Cruises generally has no problem with women sunbathing topless, but this is only accepted in designated areas. These are located on the Olympia at the front of Deck 8 and on the Crystal at the front of Deck 10.”
Costa Crociere
The Italian cruise line Costa Crociere (translated: Costa Cruises) is also part of Carnival Corp. & plc. In response to a TRAVELBOOK inquiry, a spokesperson explained that Costa Crociere welcomes “guests from numerous countries and cultures on board” and, as an international and family-oriented cruise company, “places great importance on creating a pleasant atmosphere for all guests and promoting a common framework of conduct that takes into account the diverse backgrounds and expectations of our international audience.” Accordingly, “topless sunbathing and swimming (…) is not permitted.”
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Tui Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Another cruise company that speaks out against sunbathing nudity is Tui Cruises. A spokesperson recently explained to TRAVELBOOK: “On board the ships of our ‘Mein Schiff’ fleet, bathing or sunbathing and staying in public areas without clothing is not permitted.” The only exception is the interior of the sauna. The same applies to the ships of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, which Tui Cruises has taken over.
Virgin Voyages
A request from Virgin Voyages has so far gone unanswered, but the cruise line has clear indications on its website regarding toplessness on board its ships. While women are not allowed to go topless everywhere on board, they can do so in a specially designated area. According to Virgin Voyages: “On Deck 17, there is a beautiful sun deck called ‘The Perch,’ where you can feel comfortable sunbathing topless at sea.”